Chronic Rotator cuff pain...Tendonitis?

Hello all, I'm looking for some advice on some shoulder pain that I've had for quite some time. I know that there are a few threads here with similar topics, but I thought I should start a new one and be as specific as I can.
I'm 23 yo and have been seriously lifting for about 5 years. I first noticed the problem about 3.5 years ago in my left shoulder, and just attributed it to poor technique and bench pressing more weight than my frame could handle (because I first noticed it during heavy benching). After that I stopped lifting for around 6 months in an effort to allow it to heal. I've been working out regularly since then (more so in the summer bc I'm a student). After the break, the pain was much less intense, but still present. Through out the next few years it gradually got worse (in both shoulders), and now the right shoulder is actually worse than the left.

The pain is primarily located in the front, middle-top area of the shoulder. After some online self diagnosis, it looks to be in the region of the supraspinatus tendon, or even a bit lower than it appears in most pictures.

Before working out I always try to loosen up my shoulders as much as I can with stretches, arm circles, and the two rotator cuff exercises that are always talked about (holding elbows out and parallel to ground and moving hand/forearm up and down, and holding elbows down and pulling out)

As far as joint supplements, I'm not very well informed, but I do take fish oil and a multi.

If you've gotten this far in this post, thank you! I've tried to be as detailed as possible. Is there anything I could be doing, short of not lifting weights? Does this sound like just a reoccurring injury or something like tendonitis? I'd appreciate any advice I can get. Thanks a lot

Sounds similar to my problem.
Best thing I could do was have a more narrow grip for barbell presses, do more dumbbell work, and try pre exhausting my triceps before I hit chest.
The best way would be to take a break.

Hello all, I'm looking for some advice on some shoulder pain that I've had for quite some time. I know that there are a few threads here with similar topics, but I thought I should start a new one and be as specific as I can.
I'm 23 yo and have been seriously lifting for about 5 years. I first noticed the problem about 3.5 years ago in my left shoulder, and just attributed it to poor technique and bench pressing more weight than my frame could handle (because I first noticed it during heavy benching). After that I stopped lifting for around 6 months in an effort to allow it to heal. I've been working out regularly since then (more so in the summer bc I'm a student). After the break, the pain was much less intense, but still present. Through out the next few years it gradually got worse (in both shoulders), and now the right shoulder is actually worse than the left.

The pain is primarily located in the front, middle-top area of the shoulder. After some online self diagnosis, it looks to be in the region of the supraspinatus tendon, or even a bit lower than it appears in most pictures.

Before working out I always try to loosen up my shoulders as much as I can with stretches, arm circles, and the two rotator cuff exercises that are always talked about (holding elbows out and parallel to ground and moving hand/forearm up and down, and holding elbows down and pulling out)

As far as joint supplements, I'm not very well informed, but I do take fish oil and a multi.

If you've gotten this far in this post, thank you! I've tried to be as detailed as possible. Is there anything I could be doing, short of not lifting weights? Does this sound like just a reoccurring injury or something like tendonitis? I'd appreciate any advice I can get. Thanks a lot

Search on youtube for rotator cuff rehab exercises. They'll be the same exercises that a physical therapist will give you. And they can really help.

It actually sounds more like biceps tendonitis than a rotator cuff issue.

Get a postural analysis (on top of what has been described). Its possible you have internally rotated humerus and/or protracted shoulders.

Br

This got me to thinking, it could also be a torn labrum. Bicep tendon inserts on the labrum (as I'm sure you already know). When I had my labrum done, one of his original thoughts was bicep tendinitis.

This was in another thread recently.
***** Evidently can't post links yet - wasn't trying being a smart@ss...

I've struggled off & on with shoulder pain (bad form/too heavy/young & dumb). I can't afford beating my shoulders any more - gets in the way of too much - Nowadays I take it a bit slower/lighter, making sure form is 100% in check. For my personal experience, my posture sitting at a desk all day was causing a good portion of the strain. I noticed working out in the morning or weekends, I don't have nearly the shoulder discomfort I do after a day at work...

This got me to thinking, it could also be a torn labrum. Bicep tendon inserts on the labrum (as I'm sure you already know). When I had my labrum done, one of his original thoughts was bicep tendinitis.

Sorry for taking so long to respond to all the good advice, was out of town for a wedding and didn't have access to the web, but I do really appreciate it. I've been doing the rehab exercises religiously and it has helped some. One thing I noticed which is odd is that the pain is strong (and I am weak) when doing incline dumbbell bench at a low angle (like 15 deg), but is non existent when I move the angle up to 30 and up. I don't even try it with barbell. But from what I'm hearing it may not be as simple as I was hoping. With all the new possibilities (biceps tendinitis, labrum issues, etc), I think I'll just have to take out the guess work and see a professional so I know for sure how to remedy. Thanks everybody!

Supplement wise YOU MUST TRY CISSUS!!!!! I had shoulder problems for years too. I tried MSM, glucosamine, chondroitin, fish oils, you name it, with no luck. I thought I would never be able to play volleyball again, but with Cissus I went back to 100%. If you got everything else looked at, give it a shot. It's really amazing stuff.

Supplement wise YOU MUST TRY CISSUS!!!!! I had shoulder problems for years too. I tried MSM, glucosamine, chondroitin, fish oils, you name it, with no luck. I thought I would never be able to play volleyball again, but with Cissus I went back to 100%. If you got everything else looked at, give it a shot. It's really amazing stuff.

I just may give that a shot, I don't think I've had any success with anything supplement wise. It looks like its around 25$, which would be a small price to pay to actually lift at 100%. When you were done with the bottle did the injury resurface?

I just may give that a shot, I don't think I've had any success with anything supplement wise. It looks like its around 25$, which would be a small price to pay to actually lift at 100%. When you were done with the bottle did the injury resurface?

Not really. Also in reading the post it seemed like it healed in 1 bottle, which is not true. 1 bottle got me to be able to play without pain while I built my way back to 100% over the course of a year. Cissus is a staple. With enough use you should be able to tell when you need to run it for a little bit for a fix.

As a former college baseball player who always lifted heavy. There wasn't a day between 2005-2011 I DIDN'T have some sort of shoulder pain.

It sounds like an impingement. I never had any surgery or anything and there were times I couldn't even write more than a scentence without shooting pain.

I'd try an ibeprofen regimen along with heat & ice first (taking time off lifting entirely) then begin stretching and light weight labrum & rotator cuff exercises. Stretching with a towl will help also.

Grab opposite ends of the towl and stretch it out across the front of your body with your hands at your side (palms facing your body) while keeping full tention on the towl.

While keeping the tell stretch apart, go all the away up and over your head until you touch your butt with the towl (palms facing away from your body) then raise them back the way you came And until your reach the startin point, that's 1.

Work your way up to 50 reps and do it before bed. I'd say all try this before dropping tons on doctors visits (unless you have good insurance) you've been living with the problem for years, another month won't kill you, IMO.

Cissus is good stuff too, took a bottle for it to work but after that I was feeling pretty good. "blasts" so to speak seem'd to help if anything flared or if I missed a few doses (as long as I stated consistent) I took the usplabs CissusRX, 2 caps/ day. Am & Pm bumpd to 6 if it flared.

Thanks distiller water, the towel thing is a nice daily stretch. I havent seen a doc yet, I probably won't unless it suddenly worsens. The reason is because my "cast a wide net" strategy is working, been doing A LOT of shoulder rehab exercises for all sorts of injuries. As well as taking it easy in the gym. I guess pinpointing the problem isn't as important as long as its getting better!

Im leaning toward bone spurs in my case. I tried the towel stretch and couldnt get my arms past the top of my head.

Oh wow, do you mean you can't get your arms over the top of your head at all, or while keeping your arms straight through out? I can do it, but I bend my arms quite a bit as my shoulder rotates at the top. It still helps, also I think it depends on where you grab the towel and your starting hand separation.

Oh wow, do you mean you can't get your arms over the top of your head at all, or while keeping your arms straight through out? I can do it, but I bend my arms quite a bit as my shoulder rotates at the top. It still helps, also I think it depends on where you grab the towel and your starting hand separation.

If I grab the towel at the very ends, I can get to just above my head to where the shoulder starts to rotate, right before my hands start to make the switch to facing rearward, then its too painful. Shoulders make grinding popping and clicking noises when I try. Hurts just as bad when I let my arms back down. Everything pops and clicks back in to place.

Glad I found this thread! I've been having some probs with my left shoulder also. Popping/grinding and mild discomfort and pain. Going to take a week off from shoulder/overhead exercises and see if that helps. Also going to pick up some cissus. Thanks for the info guys

Glad I found this thread! I've been having some probs with my left shoulder also. Popping/grinding and mild discomfort and pain. Going to take a week off from shoulder/overhead exercises and see if that helps. Also going to pick up some cissus. Thanks for the info guys

No but it did take about 6-8 months for strength and mobility to get back to normal. Obe problem i had was my right shoulder definitely had more strength than left which messed up my form for a lot of exercises

No but it did take about 6-8 months for strength and mobility to get back to normal. Obe problem i had was my right shoulder definitely had more strength than left which messed up my form for a lot of exercises

Bench press is nortorious for causing shoulder issues, it's hard to say what you have done without any orthopedic tests or diagnostics, you may also want to consider the anterior glenohumeral joint capsule itself, may be a tear or sprain of this. It may be a good idea to do some tests with your doctor or physical therapist for peace of mind, you don't have to commit to there treatment but atleast you can be more specific in your approach to your shoulder issue.

Go to youtube and search for californiacrossfit the guy has a rediclous amount of videos on shoulder problems. His videos and ones that show some ART have done wonders for me. Check for tight pecs, biceps, mid back, lats. I was tight and had knotts in all but the bicep. Just remember no pain face...